A few weeks ago, InnoCentive Solver Ed Herrmann Tweeted the following: “Just deposited my Innocentive check for the Polestar Challenge. Now I just need to decide what to buy; suggestions?” He received a few responses, including an enthusiastic suggestion to sponsor a happy hour in Phoenix. In the end, he used the money to purchase a new server and an SDN Subscription. He’s planning to use the server to run the SAP Web Application Server which comes with the subscription, which will provide him with his own licensed SAP system to use for future SAP related InnoCentive Challenges.

Over the years, we’ve heard about Solvers using their winnings for all manner of things – from philanthropy to upgrading lab equipment to upgrading home entertainment equipment. John Davis, winner of the OSRI oil spill Challenge is planning to use his winnings to fund a trip to Alaska, to help the Seeker, the Oil Spill Recovery Institute, develop and implement his solution. In addition, he donated some of his winnings to OSRI to be used toward finding more environmentally friendly methods of cleaning up oil spills.

What about you? What have you done with your winnings? If you haven’t yet won an award, what do you think you would do? Tell us!

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Today we’re launching the “Question of the Week” series to get your thoughts on a variety of different topics. If you’re interested in what others think about a specific topic, let us know and we’ll include it.

Last week, the World Health Organization declared swine flu a “pandemic”. Both traditional and social media venues have been abuzz about the swine flu story for weeks, and have been accused of blowing it out of proportion and causing panic. Do you think all of the media attention is helpful during times of crisis? Or does it make problems worse?

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I posted our most recent Solver Profile on Nikolay Barashkov last week. He makes the point that being a Solver not only gave him the opportunity to earn cash, it also gave him a place to develop some of his best ideas. He has submitted those that were not chosen as winning solutions for provisional patents. I recently spoke to another Solver from Europe who told me that InnoCentive allowed him to earn cash toward his own research. He said it was hard to find funding where he’s located and he found this was a great way to earn money on the side.

We’d love to hear your perspective as a Solver. What prompted you to sign up as a Solver? What do you value most about being a Solver? Just post your thoughts in the comments section of this post.